Book buzz

April is over. Surprised? I am. Now, that the calendar has reunited with May, I am in panic mode for the season of discontent, summer. Every year it’s the same story: My body refuses to cooperate with bathing suit goals. This year is going to be different. I am not going to beat myself up about it. Instead, I’m going to read A. J. Jacobs’ "Drop Dead Healthy: One man’s humble quest for bodily perfection." Join Jacobs as he embarks on a quest to become “the healthiest man alive,” a noble endeavor, and one in which we can participate vicariously from our seat on the hammock. Read as he tackles the health of every body part imaginable. A variety of dieting experiments, including raw foods, veganism, high protein, calorie restriction, and, yes, extreme chewing are featured.

Not in the mood for extreme fitness endeavors? How about wrestling with morality? It's Survivor, circa 1914. Grace Winter, 22, is both a newlywed and a widow. She is also on trial for her life. The ocean liner carrying her and her husband suffers a mysterious explosion, leaving passengers scrambling for their lives. Set adrift on a lifeboat that is beyond capacity, the protagonist embarks on a journey she never imagined. Written by Princeton University graduate Charlotte Rogan, “The Lifeboat” tackles human behavior in the most dire of circumstances.